Process and apparatus for bending axles



Sept. 4, 1934; w c. c. BENNETT PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AXLESFiled June 22, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet l M n w C/aude 656mm Sept 4- c. c.BENNETT 1,972,285

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AXLES 7 SheetsSheet 2 Filed June' 22,1931 C lduaeCBmnell Sept. 4, 1934. c. c. BENNETT PROCESS AND APPARATUSFOR BENDING AXLES Filed June 22. 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 4, 1934; c.c. BENNETT PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AXLES Filed June 22. I931'1 Sheets-Sheet 4 ClaudeCBezmZ l Se t. 4, 1934. c. c. BENNETT PROCESSAND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AXLES Filed June 22. 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5gwmmto'a (701.10% CBelznezl 32,11 m r W,

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PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR EENDING AXLES Filed June 22, 1931. 7Sheets-Sheet 6 4 25 ijj 'jn '\W .\.\I l 46 b Sept. 4, 1934. c. c.BENNETT 1,972,285

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AXLES Filed June 22. 1931 .7Sheets-Sheet v .9 K C3 292 A 29 57 62 T 2,? J 9 6 s i 62 C U 6 C2 60 5 023 5 250 "f1 .15 ,6 5 cs ,2, /5 a B 50 5 57 62 22 A 22 a c: 62 63 f L.65

u r mo)! gmwnto'c Claude 615 mm Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFICEPROCESS ANDAPPARA'IUS FOR BENDING AXLES,

Claude 0. Bennett, Seattle, Wasln, asslgnor to A. E. Feragcn, Inc.,Seattle, Wash, a corporation of Washington Application June 22, 1931,Serial No. 546,086

19 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of automobile wheel alignment, and moreespecially to the bending and gauging of front axles to bring thesteering wheels to be mounted thereon into proper alignment. Myinvention is concerned'both with the method of bringing about properalignment, and with apparatus whereby the necessary operations can beperformed.

By means of various known indicators and gauges, it may bedeterminedwhen the parts of a steering system, particularly the axle,spindle, and king pin, are out of alignment, and by how much, withoutremoving the axle from the car. By careful measurements misalignment ofsteerings arms can be discovered. By the use of such devices, the ownerof the car may be convinced that parts are not in proper alignment, butin order to correct all but the most simple cases of misalignment, itbecomes necessary to remove the axle from the car, andit has always beenconsidered necessary to remove from the axle the various steering arms,spindles and the like. Not

only is their removal and replacement a job which requires some littletime and effort, but with the spindle removed it is only possible tocheck its alignment .flative to the axle, and the consequentalignmentl-aof the wheel, indirectly,

by checking uponthe'king-pin hole, by means of which the spindle issupported and pivoted.

In the final analysis, the wheels rotate upon the spindles, hence, it isthe spindles themselves which must be in accurate alignment. By methodsand with apparatus heretofore in use, it has come to be the custom toassume that the spindle is properly aligned if the king pin hole,wherein is received the king pinwhich supports the spindle body, isproperly aligned. This, however, is not a valid assumption, and may leadto a false conclusion. The king pin may be bent somewhat; the spindlemay be bent relative to its supporting body; the post inserted in theking pin hole, for use as the base from which measurements are made, maybe bent, or may not be precisely centered'in the hole. Any or all ofthese factors may introduce an error, which, though small, is seriousbecause the angular magnitudes involved are very small. By the presentprocess and with the present apparatus, such errors can be eliminated.

It has not been found convenient with appara tus heretofore in use (norwas any useful purpose served), to accomplish bending operations upon anaxle with any accessory devices, such as the spindle body, the brakedrums, the steering arms and the like, attached to the axle, but I haveworked out a process whereby this can not only be accomplished, butgreater accuracy results By this process, and with the apparatus'whichforms a part of the present invention, these can all be left in place,thus eliminating the work necessary first to remove them and then toreplace them, and in addition, contributing markedly to the accuracy ofthe process, as has been indicated above.

The object of my invention, then, is to provide a method, and anapparatus for carrying out the same, whereby axles may be bent to returnparts to proper alignment more accurately because the spindle bodies areleft in place, and more expeditiously and cheaply because oftheincreased accuracy, and because it is not necessary to remove such partsfrom the axle.

Referring more particularly to the apparatus, it is afurther object toprovide apparatus of this character and-for the purpose indicated whichshall be simple and sturdy in construction, and easily operated, and inwhich the axle can be handled and automatically set up and exactlypositioned for a variety of bending and gauging operations to beperformed thereon, and by means of which the axle can be handled andstraightened without theremoval of accessory parts therefrom.

It is also an object to provide devices by means of which determinationof proper alignment can be made while the bending operations are beingperformed upon the axle, so that the work can be checked as it'progresses, all the while retaining the axle in the position in which itis set, during all the bending and gauging operations.

It is also an object to provide a device of this character which willenable the operator to work with the least lifting and handling of heavyparts, especially heavy hydraulic jacks for holding, clamping andbending the axle.

Apparatus embodying my invention is shown in a number of forms in theaccompanying drawings, as at present preferred by me, and is furtherdescribed in this specification and more particularly pointed out by theclaims: which define the principles of my invention, and certainmechanical forms wherein these principles are embodied.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simple form of my device, showing anaxlein place thereon and a gauging operation being carried out.

Figure 2 is a plan view, and Figure 3 is a side elevation of my device,operating to bend an axle.

Figure 4 is a side elevationof an end of my device,'showing a difierenttype of bending operation being carried out upon an axle.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of an end of my device, showing a gaugingoperation being carried out, and Figure 6 Ba plan view of the end of theaxle and'the gaugeassociated therewith for the same operation as. isillustrated in Figure ation as is'shown' in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 101s a front elevation, with partsbroken away, showing'a modifiedform of mydevice with an axle in place;-and Figure 11 is a cross sectiontherethrough.

I Figure 12 is a perspective view, and Figure 13 a plan view of afurther gaugingoperatio'n being performedwith this device.

Essentially, the apparatus consists of a bed frame, from which thebending operations may be carried out, .vises or' holding means upon thebed frame, by means of which the axle can .be held elevated above thebed plate and held rigidly with respect thereto, in an accuratelypredetermined position relative to certain gauging devices, means in thenature either of portable jacks,

or jack-controlled levers with spacer bars extending between theselevers and theaxle, certain thereof being intended for bending the axleand others forresisting the bending at points where it is not desired tobend the axle, but where the reaction of the bending effect might causea bend, and devices for accurately gauging an axle which is held in thepredetermined position, or the parts which are mounted thereon.

course, vary considerably, and the bed frame, generally designated 1, isshown in the accompanying drawings as composed of two central channels10 and other channels 11, of somewhat less depth than the channels 10,all being secured together by spacer members 12 at the ends of thechannels and by end frames 13 which connect and support the elementsforming the bed frame.

7 Bed plates 18 may be used or not, as preferred (Figure 12). I Theparts thus assembled leave channels such as the central channel14,'through which bolts 20 may be passed, to secure bases 2, in which.they are secured, to the bed frame 1, clamping nuts 21 of anyconvenient form being employed for this purpose.

Supported upon the bases .2 are the vises or axle-clamping means.Preferably, a fixed uppe jaw 22 is formed integrally with the base 2,being supported at a distance thereabove by a standard 23 disposed attherear side of the base. Pivotedat 24 upon the standard 23, below thefixed jaw 22, is agmovable jaw 25,'which cooperates with the fixed jaw22- to hold an axle A between them. The jaw 25 is moved toward the-fixedjaw 22 by such me s as a hydraulic jack 3 resting upon the base 2 andengaging the outer end of the movable jaw'25. The spacing between thetwo jaws is so designed that it will hold anaxle at a given level, andin a given line, so that it may properly cooperate with gauging deviceshereafter to be described. Index marks 22' cooperate with like marksupon the axle, to insure that'it is straight in the vise, or thepositioning of the axle may be accomplished by employing a V recess inthe jaw 25, or preferably, by receiving a bearing block 26 (Figure 9) inthis recess. It is also possible to vary the height of the pivot pins24, for axles of different heights, bydisposing the pivot pin 24 in anyone of several holes the standard, as may be observed in 9 and 1 1. Ininstances where there is a severe .upward stress upon the fixed jaw 22,this can be reinforced by a clevis 39 passed over the outer end of thefixed jaw 22 and extending downwardly to a point where apertures in itslower end .are in registry with 'aperturesin the standard 23, whereby aretaining pin 38 (see Figure 4) may hold. the clevis down.

Such a situation is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein Itwo bendingjacks,ydesignated30 and 31 to distinguish. them, press upwardagainstthe' under side of the, axle close to one-of the clampingdevices. v I' Figure 4 illustrates how anaxle may be bent. by pressureexerted directly upwardlyfrom the bed frame 1 against the axle. In thisinstance, the jack 31 is bending the outer 'end of an axle in an upwarddirection, and the jack 30 is resisting any tendency to bend the'axle inthecenter. While the bending in the illustration is in an upwarddirection, the axle in this figure is inverted, so that the outer endthereof is actually being bent downwardly, that is, in

such a way as to increase the camber of the accomplished, "either byturning the axle'upon its side and proceeding in the manner illus-.

trated in Figure '4, or by employing 15 which hook over the edges of theouter channel members 11, as may be seenin Figure 9, and which extendthenceacross the bed frame and upwardly to form a resisting element forbending or holding jacks, illustrated at 32 and 33 (Figures I 2, 3 and9). The mechanical form of the apparatus may, of

According to my process, the axle is removed from the car; it has beenfound convenient around them,'but if the operator prefers they 1% can,be 1 ft in] place, and the gauging 'done from the w l or spindle. Incars with demountable wheels, for instance, .the ,wheel only might beremoved. It will never be found inconvenient, however, to leave thespindle, the brake shoes-the brake arms, the steering the king pin, andall such devices in place. An axle so prepared is illustrated in Figure1, and B designates the brake shoes, C and C the steering arms, and Cthe arm to which the drag. link is connected. A brake cam lever isillustrated at D, the spindle at S and the king pin at K. Now this axleis placedin the jaws of the vises, these fitting at about thelocation ofthe spring perch or pad. This spring pe is The first consideration is tomake certain that n the two spring perches are-in the same plane 40 andproperly aligned in suchplane, and that the axle between them is,straight. If the axle, between the perches, is bent, the perches willbe out of alignment, and-usually this can be detected through failure ofboth perches to bear fully and fairly against the inner side of thefixed jaws 22. Deviation of the axle from a straight line, between theperches, can be determined by comparison of the axle, held by the jaws25 against the jaws 22, with a straight- 15o .surfaceot the fixed jaw22.

edge E, supported upon finished surfaces 28 or 29 upon the standards.The comparison may be purely visual, or may include measurement orgauging with a contact gauge. Assuming the perches to be out ofalignment, one or the other is held between the jaws 22 and 25, and theaxle is bent o twisted between the perches to return the opposite perchto proper alignment, as may be determined by the straight-edge andgaugesmentioned, and by the ability of the two perches to lie flat against theinner faces of the jaw 22. Local inaccu'racies,not affecting the finalresult, may also be located and corrected, chiefly for the sake ofappearance.

Now the spring perches are used as reference surfaces, being heldagainst the jaws 22 by the movable jaws 25 and their bearing blocks 26.Thus held, the axle is substantially centered along the median plane ofthe press, and is accurately positioned in this plane by the index marks22'. It can now be determined if the axle is straight at each end,beyond the spring perches. E may be used again, and by visual comparisonor by measurement with a rule or contact gauge it can be determined ifthe ends of-the axle are bent forward or backward from a straight linethrough the center of the perches, and if either end is higher than theother, with respect to the plane of the spring perches.

These are preliminary steps, to make the axle as nearly straight aspossible, thereby tending to position the king pins K and the spindles Sin their proper positions, but because such measurements cannot be madeso accurately as is necessary, and because in the manufacture of theaxle or the spindles errors in alignment may have crept in, the processcannot stop here. It is now necessary to determine whether or not theinclination of the king pin (in the vertical plane of the axle) iscorrect, if the camber angle of the spindle is correct, andin axleswherein caster is provided for-by the inclinationof the king pin in aforward and rearward plane relative to the perches (rather than bytilting the axle as a whole), -to determine if the kingv pin has theproper caster-angle. If the axle is not intended to-have caster, itshould be definitely established that it has not, in fact.

Such determinations are made with the axle in place in the press,accurately positioned in the manner heretofore indicated, and since thespindle S is that part of the steering system the position and movementof which directly controls the rotation of the wheel in true align-"ment, it is preferable that all gauging be done rately, from time totime as the work progresses.

As a means of applying a gauge to the spindle, I may support upon thespindle a member which carries a point lying precisely in the axis ofthe spindle, or in outward extension thereof,

from which point measurementsare, in effect,

made. Various ways may be employed to support such a member, and it maytake various forms. Conveniently, it may consist of an arm 5-having aVblock at one end adapted to straddle a cylindrical portion of thespindle, which V-block To do this, the straight-edge:

and arm may be held in place by a clevis 51 and clamping screw 52. Thearm is slotted (Figures 6 and '7), and a slide 53 is slidable in thisslot longitudinally of the arm 5, and at its lower end a point 55 isprovided, which may be used to indicate'angular movements directly (seeFigure 12), or the slide 53 may be slightly hooked and recessed toprovide a support at 55', at which point may be supported a plumb bob inthe form of the steel pencil 54. In either case the point 55 or55' liesprecisely in an extension 'of the spindles axis, and may be verticallyadjustable to'this end. The pointot the plumb .bob or pencil is thusmaintained directly beneath the support 55', and a given distancetherebelow, which, of course, is the length of the plumb bob.

By these or like means, angular movement of the spindle from aposition'corresponding to straight-ahead position of thecar can bedetermined.- To assist in this, I provide a segment plate 6, which issuitably supported from the bed framel, for instance, by means of anangled bracket, the vertical arm of which is guided between the channels10 for vertical movement, being held in adjusted position by a clampingnut 61, and the horizontal member 62 of which is slotted, as indicatedat 63, and extends in the vertical plane of the axle outwardly beneaththe spindle and the arm 5 when the latter are in the straight-aheadposition-that the position wherein the spindles axis is in the verticalplane of the axle, and the wheels would roll directly ahead,disregarding toe-in. The segment plate 6 is adjustable by means of theslot 63 and the clamping nut 64 to bring it directly beneath the point55, or directly beneath the point of the plumb bob 54, in which positionthe center about which the plumb bob swings coincides with the center ofthe segment plate.

When the spindle is turned "upon the king pin K, the angular departurefrom the straightahead position, either forward or rearward, can

be measured by means of an angular scale upon the segment plate 6, theplumb bob acting as a pointer.

I have discovered that the lateral angle of inclination of the king pincan be ascertained in a simple manner and by application of a gaugedirectly to the spindle. When the wheels turn on their spindles thisangle of lateral inclination is measured by determining the angle ofroll of a diameter, the lower end of which is the point of contact ofthe wheel with the roadway, as that diameter rolls from a positionwherein the wheel is turned thirty degrees forward of the straight-aheadposition to a position thirty degrees rearward. Because the wheel hascamber and the king pin is oppositely inclined to meet the plane of thewheel at the point of contact with the roadway, the lower part of thewheel (where it contacts with the roadway) does not shift as the wheelpivots about the inclined king pin, but the end of the spindle doesshift from somewhat behind the axis of the king pin to somewhat in frontthereof, or the reverse.

It also drops from its elevation in the straightahead position(disregarding toe-in) when turned either forward or rearward. Thesedropsgreat forward and thirty degrees rearward, is the angle of lateralinclination of the king pin.

This method of determining king pin inclination is described more fullyand claimed in a co-pending application Serial No. 546,084, filed June22,1931, and the same may be carried out. with the present apparatus andas a step in the present process; or any othersuitable gauging systemmay be employed. For such a purpose Imay employ apparatus which iscommonly em- .ployed inconjunction with wheels in making angulardeterminations, and thus, in Figure 7. an. upright squarebar 56' isshown received and] clamped in an upright socket 57 at the outer end ofthe arm 5. Upon the bar 56', extendinglaterally at right, angles to thearm 5, is a. gauge arm, generally designated bythe numeral'l, theconstruction of whichis described in said copending application. In itsessence, this comprises a bubble tube 70, mounted upon an arm 71,pivoted at 72 upon an arm 73, which has a can be determined. Care mustbetaken in meas- 5 is parallel to the axis of the spindle, and the arm 73is held parallel to the arm 5, the bubble tube on the arm 71 will enablea direct reading of the camber angle, as may be seen in Figure 5. Thecaster angle can also be determined, in a similar way. Due to casterinclination of the king pin,'the end of the spindle will rise when it isturned forward, s'aythirty degrees, and

when it is turned rearward thirty degrees (in each instance, from thestraight-ahead position) it will fall, since its rotation is in a planeperv pendicular, to the axis of the inclined king pin.

Due to this rise and fall of the spindle end the plane of its movementcan be determined by the two measurements of angle, thirty degreesforward andv thirty degrees rearward, and its angle relative to thehorizontal is the caster angle.

To determine the caster angle, the gauge arm 7 may be secured upon thebar 56, extending in line with the arm 5 and the spindle's axis, ratherthan at right angles thereto, as in the measurement of lateralinclination. The spindle with the gauge thus supported thereon is movedforwardly and rearwardly, thirty degrees each way, and if there is anycaster in the 'king pin a difference in inclination is observed. Thisconstitutes the caster angle of the king pin.

Reverting now to the process, after the outer ends of the axle have beenstraightened as nearly accurately as may be determined by contactgauges, measurements, and the like, the spindle is gauged in the mannerindicated above, or in any other suitable manner, to indicate the kingpin inclination angle, the camber angle of the spindle, and the casterangle of the king pin, if

any. Knowing the manufacturer's specification for the car in question,it is possible to determine if the observed angles are improper, and

-it possible to compare" the caster, camber and king pin inclinationangles of the opposite ,ends'ofithe axle, for obviously,.they should bealike at" the two ends. "If it is observed that the camber angle isincorrect, it is possible to apply jacks somewhat after the mannerindica edin Figure 4 to increase the camber angle, or in the same mannerbut with the axle re-inverted, to decrease the camber angle of thespindle. Similarly, if it is observed that the kingpin inclination angleis incorrect, it can be correctedin the same manner. If, after; theking-13pm inclination angle has been corrected, :the camber-angle isstill' incorrect, it may be [necessary to discard the spindle and toinstall a'{ new; and correct spindle, 'for the spindles are oftenfbentwith respect to the spindle bodies,

tic-[restore them to proper condition. If the caster angle is incorrect,it may be necessary to apply a wrench to the outer end of the axle to,twis't' it, and to restore the caster angle to the oneiwhich experienceor thespecifications for thegparticular car show tobe correct.

"While all of these operations are proceeding, it

is possible from time totime to apply the gauge" 'and" to gauge the workas it progresses, since the axle is always-held in accurate position forgau in and the gauge may be easily applied.

Thus, with the least effort, both as to gauging and'as to lifting andmoving about the axle or the jack, it is possible to determine how thework is progressing, and to make it accurate to a fine degree, andbecause it is an easy and quick- 1y accomplishedoperation, it will befrequently performed.

The angle, length, manner of connection and elevation of the steeringarms materially affect the operation of the steering system. Theinterconnection between-the two steering arms, effected by means of thetie rod, determines the angles which the wheels will assume in making aturn. Frequently, this is assumed to be a matter merely of getting thecorrect length of tie rod, but when itis. appreciated that the effectivelength of the tie rodvaries with a variation in the angle of thesteering arm, whether in a lateral direction or in a vertical direction,and that very small differences in the effective length of the tie rodcause magnified inaccuracies in the position of the" wheels, it isappreciated that these factors should be exact in order to obtain thebest result's, the easiest steering and the least wear on tires;Accordingly, it will usually befound desirable'to check the relativepositions of the ends of the steering arms. v

The steering arms of an automobile are so disposed angularlywith respectto the plane of the wheels they control, at such a distance therefrom,andso. connected to the opposite steering arm by the tie rod T, that theend of the steering arm of the inside wheel moves longitudinally of thecar to a greater extent than does the end'of the steering arm of theoutsidewheel, but thelatter moves more. transversely of the car thandoes the inside steering arm. The result is that the angular movement ofthe inside wheel ismore than cause of the shortness of the steering armin any 'it' has not been found economical to attempt event, relative tothe distance from the point about which the turningof the carprogresses, very small errors in the location of the end of the steeringarm will produce serious errors in alignment when the car is turned. Itis essential, then, that these inaccuracies be determined and corrected.

As a means for doing this, the apparatus illustrated in Figures 12 and13 may be employed. The ends of the steering arms C"and C are gauged forelevation above the bed frame 1, and for this-purpose I have shown acontact gauge consisting of an upright 80, a base 81 and a contactfinger 8, the latter being movable vertically of the standard to contactwith the end of the steering arm, and thus with the axle fixed inpositionto indicate whether the end of one arm or the other is lowerthan the standard fixed by the manufacturers, or if there is adifference in elevation between the two. Naturally, the spindle must bein the straight-ahead position, as the steering arms rise and fall dueto inclination and caster in the king pin.

For further determination of the correctness of the position of thesteering arms, it is desirable that they be connected in the normalmanner with the tie rod T. If this has heretofore been disconnected, itshould now be connected up again, and'the spindles should be tested tomake certain that the tie rod is of such length that both spindlesextend in the vertical plane of the axle. Now with the arm 5 applied toeach spindle there may be employed a pointer *9; supported in the slide53 heretofore referred to, and slidable in the arm 5, the point 55 ofthis pointer being movable over the segment plate 6 to indicate angularmovement of the spindle. One of the spindles is moved so that, were itan outside wheel, it would move through thirty degrees, for instance.The other spindle, as shown by the opposite pointer 9, will have movedthrough a greater angle, if the steering arms are properly adjusted, andthe magnitude of this angle will depend upon the wheelbase of the carand the camber and caster angles. The observed reading can be comparedwith the manufacturers specifications, or with those known to be correctfor the car in question. If the steering arm is too far out or too farin, too high or too low, proper correction may be made by disconnectingthe tie rod and bending the arm. To a limited extent errors in lengthcan be corrected, or new arms can be installed.

Such operations are continued untilthe ends of the steering arms arecorrectly positioned, whereupon it should result that the entiresteering system is properly adjusted. Naturally, the steering arms wouldnot be adjusted until the axle and spindle are first adjusted to properposition, and then, when the steering arms are adjusted so that they areat equal angles to the plane of their respective wheels, at the sameelevation above the bed frame 1, and at the proper distance from theaxis of the king pin K, all parts should be in c line, both in avertical plane and in a horizontal plane, whereby the bending operationscan be effected without handling of the jack units. Such apparatus isshown in Figures 10 and 11. The bed frame, base, standards and jaws neednot be altered in construction, except as I prefer to employ twoclamping bolts 20 to hold down the' base 2. This leaves the central slot14 free forthe reception of double-ended bending levers 4,

of spacer members 46 supported upon one or the other of the arms .41 or42, for instance, having an end seating in a socket 4'7 in these arms,and its upper end bearing against the axle at or beyond the point to bebent upward. The reaction would be resisted by yokes, bridges, or spacermembers (not shown) bearing beneath the axle at the point of resistanceand seating upon the bed frame. Downward bending effort may be exertedby such means as the loop or clevis 48 straddling the axle at the pointto be bent, and.

connecting at its lower end toa hook 49 engaging beneath a hooked end,as 42 (see Figure 10) of one of the bending levers.

For exerting lateral bending effort precisely similar arms 4 may besupported in a frame 1'? upstanding behind the bed frame, and these maybe operated by jacks independent of the jacks 34 and 35, or may beconnected for operation by these same jacks; the latter form is shownherein. Thus, for example, the verticalshaft 36 may be supported in theframe 17 or from the bed frame,

and an arm 37, connected to the link 44, causes this shaft 36 tooscillate as the jacks 34 and 35 are manipulated. This motion iscommunicated to the horizontally disposed levers 4 by means of the arms38 and links 39.

Such an arrangement is susceptible of a number of refinements, forinstance, connecting the control valves and pumps of the several jacksto one given point so that they may be relieved or may have the powerapplied without bending down to'manipulate the controls upon each jack.It is also possible to supply, fluid to the jacks as selected by valvesthus located, the fiuid coming from a reservoir outside of the jacksthemselves, thus in effect, producing a hydraulic press with a number ofjacks pressed from a common pressure supply source.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of aligning the steering system of an automobile whichconsists in removing the wheels from their spindles and the axle, withspindles in place, from the car, subjecting the axle to bending ortwisting moments or both, to correct previously determined departuresfrom proper a ignment, gauging the spindles as the bending progresses todetermine the proper setting thereof, gauging the steering arms, andfinally altering the position of their ends, as required, to bring bothsteering arms into proper and like relationship to the planes of theirrespective wheels.

2. The method of aligning the steering system of an automobile whichconsists in applying twisting or bending moments, as required, to theaxle between the spring perches, to bring the latter into alignment, andinto a common plane, gauging the angularity of the king pin, app ytwisting or bending moments, as required, to the axle outside of theperches, to .bring the king pins into correct position, gauging thespindles in their normal assembled places,- and again altering theangularity of the kingpin tocorrectslight deviations of the spindles.

--.3. An axle press comprising a bed frame, sp' aced vises adapted tohold an axle at the spring perches,

angular gauge'means, means to support'the latter in predeterminedpositions from the spindle, means supported from the bed frameto'measure the angular swing of the spindle-from straight-, 15

ahead position in each direction, and means to apply bending stresses tothe axle, while held-by the vises in operative relationship totheseveral gauging means. t

4. An axle press comprising a bed frame, spaced vises adapted to holdthe axle in a prede- I termined position; angular -gauge means',-Irneans I including a supporting arm adapted to be secured I upon aspindle and to extend parallel thereto,

- for -supportingsaid gaugemeans, aseginent bar supported from thebed-plate, means disposed in the extension of the spindlesaxiafsupported from said arm 'and cooperating with the sege ment bar tomeasurethe angular swingjo'f the spindle from straight ahead positionin" each direction, and'means to bend the use, while it,

held by the vises in operative relationship to the several gaugingmeans, thereby" toqalter such relationship. I

I 5.4 An axle presscoinprisinga frame, spaced I adapted to hold the axlein a'predetermined position, angular gauge means;- means including asupporting arm adapted to be secured upon a spindle and to extendparallelithereto, for

I supporting said gauge means, a segment bar supported fromjthe bedplate, means in the I extension of the spindles axis, supported ,'tromsaid arm and cooperating with segment bar tomeasure thean'gular swingof' thefspindle trom straight ahead position in; each-direction, meansto adjust said segment barvertically'andlengthwise of theaxis,and-'toadjust thepoint of support of thecooperating element, lethwise o!- the; spindle, and meanscooper'ating with the vises to-bendthe side, while it "is-held inoperative;

relationship to-the several gouging means, I

6. An axle press comprising ;a bed frame, spaced adapted to'holdthezaxlerin a predetermined po t on; angular s c a s. m s i ud n asupporting arm adapted. to be upon a spindle and to extendvparallelsthereto, i'or supportingsaid gauge means, a-segmentbar sup- Iported irom the bed plateanda plumb bob supported from 'said-arm, anddepending from a' point in extension of the spindles axis, said plumbbob cooperating with theisegment barto measure theangular swing ofqthespindle from straight-ahead position in direction, and to apply bendingstresses to the-axle. while it is held by the vises in operativerelationship to the several gauge means, thereby to.

alter the relationship of the plumb bob to the. segment bar.

'7, An axle press comprising abed frame, spaced bases supported thereon,a downwardly lacing 'iaw fixed upon and-spaced above'each'besa-a movablejaw beneath-the flxediaw, and pivoted upon each base, a iack'adapted torest upon the base, and to bear upward beneath the pivoted iaw "to clamp.an'axle between the-Jaws,"

and thereby to fix it'in 'a-predetermined posied from the bed platetomeasure the angular or both, to correct-prevlously determined detion,angular gauge means, means to support the latter in predeterminedpositions from the spindles in place upon the axle, means supportswingof the spindle from straight-ahead position in each direction, and meansto bend the axle, while thus held, to alter the relationship of thespindle-supported and the bed plate-supported gauge means to each other,and to enable gauging as the bending progresses 8. An axle presscomprising a bed frame, spaced vises adapted to held an axle in apredetermined position, bending levers independent or said vises andpivotally supported from the bed frame in the plane of an axle thusheld, means for transmitting bending moments fromsaid bending levers toselected points upon the axle, andmeans to swing said bending levers.

9. An axle press comprising a bed frame, spaced means to holdv an axlein a predetermined position thereabove, bending levers pivotally sup Iported from the bed frame in the 'vertical and horizontal planes of anaxle thus held, means for transmitting bending moments from said bendinglevers to selected points upon the axle, and means to swing said bendinglevers.

10;.In an axle press, in combination. axle clamping means comprising abase, a fixed jaw I supported from and above said base, a jaw piv- Iotally supported from the base, below the fixed. jaw, means reactingfrom the base to move the pivoted jaw to clamp an axle, and meansassociatedrwith the jaws to fix the axle thus clamped in a,predetermined position relative to the base.

11, :A method for aligning the steering system 11 of an automobile, suchsystem including two wheels, a spindle whereon each wheel is rotatablymounted, and an axis normally supporting the car, and to the ends ofwhich the respective spindles are pivotally mounted to swing torwardlyand rearwardly of the axle, which method consists in removing the axlefrom the car, leaving the spindles in place upon the axle, subject'- ingthe. axle to bending or twisting moments,

12" partures from. proper alignment, andindependently gauging byseparate reference to each spindle axis to determine its relation tonxed reference points on the axle, as the bending pro-x g'resses, todetermine 'the'alignment'ot the steering,system ;-12. A method wherebymay be aligned the steering system of an automobile, such system"includingan axle provided at its ends with king 'pin holes, a spindlewhereon is rotatably mounted 'esnwnoiel jiaa method whereby may ,bealigned the steerin'gsystemoranautomobilemchm I eluding-two road wheels,spindles whereon each 1 ,5 of said wheels is rotatably mounted, and milknormally supporting thecar, andto theends ofwhichtherespectivespindlesarepivotallymoimtedbykingpinstoswingonagenernilywiaht axiawhichmethodcomprisesthesteeb ing system to determine thenature and extent of misalignment, removing the wheels'from theirspindles, leaving the spindles secured by their king pins upon the axle,removing the axle, with spindles in place, from the car, distorting theaxle to correct observed departures of the steering system from properalignment, and gauging the spindles as the bending progresses todetermine the alignment of the steering system.

14. A method whereby may be aligned the steering system of anautomobile, such system including two wheels, a, spindle whereon eachwheel is rotatably mounted, and an axle normally supporting the car, andto the ends of which the respective spindles are pivotally mounted toswing on an inclined, generally upright axis, which method consists inremoving the wheels from their spindles, leaving the spindles in placeupon the axle, supporting the axle in a position fixed in relation to apredetermined reference line, subjecting the axle while thus supportedto bending or twisting moments, or both, to correct previouslydetermined departures from proper alignment, and separately gauging theindividual relation of each spindle to such predetermined reference lineas the bending progresses, and with the axle so fixed in positionfthusto determine the alignment of the steering system.

15. A method whereby may be aligned the steering system of anautomobile, such system including two road wheels, spindles whereon eachof said wheels is rotatably mounted, and an axle normally supporting thecar, and to the ends of which the respective spindles are pivotallymounted to swing on a generally upright axis, which method consists inremoving the wheels from their spindles and the axle, with spindles inplace, from the car, gauging the axle itself and the spindles todetermine the nature and extent of misalignment, subjecting the axle tobending or twisting moments, or both, as indicated, to correct observeddepartures from-properalignment, and as the bending or twistingprogresses, gauging the axle to determine its straightness, and thespindles to determine the alignment of the steering system.

16. A method whereby may be aligned the steering system of anautomobile, such system including two wheels, a spindle whereon eachwheel is rotatably mounted, and an axle normally supporting the car, andto the ends of which the respective spindles ere pivotally mounted toswing on an inclined, generally upright axis, which method consists inremoving the wheels from their spindles and the axle, with the spindlesin place, from the car, supporting the axle substantially in its normalposition of use and in a definite relation to a vertical reference line,gauging the steering system with respect to such reference line, withthe axle thus supported, to determine the nature and extent ofmisalignment, subjecting the axle to bending or twisting moments, or

both, as indicated, to correct observed departures from properalignment, and as the bending or twisting progresses, gauging thesteering system with respect to such reference line to determine itsalignment.

1'7. 'A method whereby may be aligned the steering system of anautomobile, such system including two wheels, a spindle whereon eachwheel is rotatably mounted, and an axle normally supporting the car, andto the ends of which the respective spindles are pivotally mounted toswing on an inclined, generally upright axis, which method consists inremoving the wheels from their spindles and the axle, with the spindlesin place, from the car, subjecting the axle to bending or twistingmoments, or both, as indicated by previousdeterminations of departurefrom proper alignment, supporting the axle in its nor mal horizontalposition of use, and gauging each spindle separately with respect to avertical line, with the axle thus supported, to determine the alignmentof the steering system.

18. A method for aligning the steering system of an automobile, suchsystem including an axle normally supporting the car, a spindlepivotally mounted at each end thereof to swing forwardly and rearwardlyof' the axle, wheels rotatably mounted on the spindles, and meansinterconnecting the two spindles to effect simultaneous swinging thereofin opposite directions relative to the axle, which method comprisesremoving the axle from the car, leaving the spindles in place upon theaxle, and the interconnecting means between the two spindles connected,in-

dependently gauging the relation of each spindle to the axle for each ofa plurality of positions assumed by the interconnecting means,correcting parts indicated to be improperly adjusted, and independentlygauging the spindles as the correcting progresses to determine thealignment of the steering system as a whole. I

19. A method for aligning the steering system of an automobile, suchsystem including an axle normally supporting the car, a spindlepivotally mounted at each end thereof to swing forwardly and rearwardlyof the axle, and wheels rotatably mounted on the spindles, which methodc0m-,

prises removing the axle from the car, leaving the spindles in place,supporting the axle in a predetermined position, applying gauging meansto a spindle, gauging the spindle in a plurality of, positions swungabout its pivot relative to the axle, to determine the nature and extentof misalignment, subjecting the axle while thus supported to bending ortwisting moments, or both, as indicated, to correct observed departuresof the spindle from proper alignment, and gauging the spindle, as thedistortion of the axle progresses, in a plurality of positionsswungabout its pivot relative to the axle, to ascertain the effect ofthe bending or twisting moments on the axle.

CLAUDE C. BENNETT.

